South Korea on a budget · 10 nights

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul

Seoul

• Insadong & Ssamziegil craft streets · 2 h. Traditional tea houses hide in the side lanes; Jogyesa temple is a five-minute walk.
• Cheonggyecheon stream walk · 1 h. Starts at Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun; lantern displays in November.

Local tip: Traditional tea houses hide in the side lanes; Jogyesa temple is a five-minute walk.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Seoul

Seoul

• Gyeongbokgung Palace & changing of the guard · 2.5 h. Closed Tuesdays. Guard ceremonies at 10am and 2pm at Gwanghwamun; entry is free if you wear hanbok. The National Folk Museum inside is free.
• Bukchon Hanok Village walk · 1.5 h. Residential lanes: visitors are restricted to roughly 10am–5pm in the core area, with fines outside those hours. Keep voices down and don't photograph into homes.
• Hongdae evening: busking, cafes and bars · 3 h. Street performers gather on the main walking street from early evening, busiest Friday and Saturday.
• Hanbok rental & palace stroll · 3 h. Shops near Gyeongbokgung Station rent by the 2–4 hours; hair styling costs extra. Hanbok gets you into the main palaces free.

Local tip: Closed Tuesdays. Guard ceremonies at 10am and 2pm at Gwanghwamun; entry is free if you wear hanbok. The National Folk Museum inside is free.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Hwaseong Fortress & Haenggung palace day trip

Seoul

• Hwaseong Fortress & Haenggung palace day trip · 7 h. The full wall loop is about 5.7 km; start at Paldalmun and finish at Hwaseomun. The palace guard ceremony runs on Sunday afternoons from spring to autumn.

Local tip: The full wall loop is about 5.7 km; start at Paldalmun and finish at Hwaseomun. The palace guard ceremony runs on Sunday afternoons from spring to autumn.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Seoul → Jeonju

Jeonju · Seoul to Jeonju, KTX Yongsan–Jeonju ~1h40

• Jeonju Hanok Village walk · 2.5 h. Over 700 tiled-roof houses; walk early or at dusk before and after the day crowds.
• Omokdae hill viewpoint · 0.5 h. Short climb with the view over the hanok roofs.
• Jeonju bibimbap lunch · 1 h. Served in a brass or stone bowl; ask for it without beef (yukhoe) for a vegetarian version.

Local tip: Over 700 tiled-roof houses; walk early or at dusk before and after the day crowds.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Jeonju

Jeonju

• Jeondong Cathedral · 0.5 h. Opposite Gyeonggijeon; respect services in progress.
• Nambu Market night market · 1.5 h. Night stalls on Friday and Saturday; the rooftop youth mall has small cafes. Kongnamul gukbap here for breakfast.
• Jaman mural village · 1 h
• Gyeonggijeon shrine · 1 h. Holds the portrait of Joseon's founding king; bamboo grove inside.
• Hanbok rental in the Hanok Village · 2 h. Cheaper than Seoul; Gyeonggijeon gives free entry in hanbok.
• Deokjin Park lotus pond · 1 h. Lotus blooms in July; a short bus ride from the Hanok Village.

Local tip: Opposite Gyeonggijeon; respect services in progress.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Jeonju → Yeosu

Yeosu · Jeonju to Yeosu, KTX Jeonju–Yeosu Expo ~1h30

• Yeosu Maritime Cable Car · 1.5 h. Crosses the harbour to Dolsan; the crystal (glass-floor) cabin costs more. Ride at dusk.
• Odongdo camellia island walk · 2 h. Walk the causeway or take the little road train; camellias flower roughly January–March.
• Gejang (soy-marinated crab) set meal · 1 h. Bongsan-dong's crab restaurants serve refillable side crabs with rice.

Local tip: Crosses the harbour to Dolsan; the crystal (glass-floor) cabin costs more. Ride at dusk.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Explore Yeosu

Yeosu

• Hyangiram hermitage at sunrise · 2 h. Cliffside hermitage on Dolsan's tip, about 50 min by bus or taxi; the climb is steep but short.
• Yeosu night sea & waterfront pojangmacha · 2.5 h. Tent bars line the harbour by Jongpo; seafood plates are made for sharing. Dolsan Bridge lights up across the water.
• Aqua Planet Yeosu & Expo Ocean Park · 2.5 h. Next to Yeosu Expo station — useful on a rainy afternoon or just before a train.

Local tip: Cliffside hermitage on Dolsan's tip, about 50 min by bus or taxi; the climb is steep but short.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Yeosu → Busan

Busan · Yeosu to Busan, Intercity bus ~2.5–3h

• Gamcheon Culture Village · 2 h. Take a bus or taxi up from Toseong Station and walk down; the stamp map from the information centre guides you round. Residents live here — keep quiet.
• Haeundae Beach & Dongbaekseom walk · 2.5 h. Swimming season is roughly June–August with lifeguards; the Dongbaekseom coastal path loops past the APEC House.

Local tip: Take a bus or taxi up from Toseong Station and walk down; the stamp map from the information centre guides you round. Residents live here — keep quiet.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Explore Busan

Busan

• Haedong Yonggungsa seaside temple · 2 h. Crowded by 10am; go early or late afternoon. About 40 min by bus or taxi from Haeundae.
• Jagalchi fish market · 1.5 h. Choose seafood downstairs and have it prepared upstairs for a table fee; prices are by weight, so agree before cutting.
• Gwangalli Beach & Gwangan Bridge night view · 2 h. The bridge is lit every night; drone light shows run on many Saturday evenings.
• Huinnyeoul Culture Village coastal walk · 1.5 h. Cliffside lanes on Yeongdo; walk the coastal tunnel path and pair with Taejongdae.
• Songdo Beach cable car & skywalk · 2 h. The crystal cabin has a glass floor and costs more; the Yonggung suspension bridge is at the far end.
• BIFF Square, Gukje Market & ssiat hotteok · 1.5 h. Seed-filled hotteok and fish-cake stalls; Gukje Market is next door for bargain shopping.

Local tip: Crowded by 10am; go early or late afternoon. About 40 min by bus or taxi from Haeundae.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Explore Busan

Busan

• Taejongdae cliffs & Danubi train · 2 h. The Danubi road train saves the walk round the headland; closed some Mondays.
• Busan X the Sky observatory · 1.5 h. Top of the LCT tower at Haeundae; sunset slots are busiest.
• Spa Land at Shinsegae Centum City · 4 h. Hot-spring baths and themed sauna rooms with a time limit per ticket; weekends cost more and young children are not admitted.
• Haeundae Blueline Park sky capsule & beach train · 2 h. Sky capsules are priced per car for up to four and sell out; book online. The beach train continues to Songjeong.

Local tip: The Danubi road train saves the walk round the headland; closed some Mondays.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps

Day 11: Depart from Busan

Busan

• Beomeosa temple on Geumjeongsan · 2.5 h. Subway to Beomeosa Station then bus 90; templestay programmes available.

Local tip: Subway to Beomeosa Station then bus 90; templestay programmes available.

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Open day 11 route in Google Maps